EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TOOLS
Resources To Spark Clarity, Courage, And Action.
Are You Ready to Break Through?™
A COACHING READINESS QUIZ BY NANCY GIRRES
This isn’t your typical personality quiz. It’s a gut-check. A soul nudge. Ten quick questions designed to help you see where you are — and whether you’re truly ready (emotionally, mentally, and practically) to step into the kind of change that transforms everything.
Ready To Find Out?
Curious if you’re ready to join a peer group?
A Peer Group READINESS QUIZ BY NANCY GIRRES
See if a Peer Group is right for you and if you're right for a peer group.
Ready To Find Out?
Books Every Leader Should Read
You don’t need more noise. You need clarity, courage, and the right ideas at the right time.
These are the books I recommend most often to the leaders I coach — because they spark honest reflection, bold decisions, and aligned action.
LEADERSHIP & CULTURE
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![Dare To Lead | Nancy Girres | Executive Leadership Tools]()
DARE TO LEAD — BRENÉ BROWN
Why I Recommend It:
This book calls leaders to drop the armor and step into the kind of bravery that builds trust, connection, and real influence. -
![Radical Candor | Nancy Girres | Executive Leadership Tools]()
RADICAL CANDOR — KIM SCOTT
Why I Recommend It:
It gives leaders a practical way to lead with both compassion and challenge — and shows how clarity is kindness. -
![The Advantage | Nancy Girres | Executive Leadership Tools]()
THE ADVANTAGE — PATRICK LENCIONI
Why I Recommend It:
Culture isn't soft — it’s your strategy. This book proves that healthy teams outperform everything else. -
![Good To Great | Nancy Girres | Executive Leadership Tools]()
Good to Great — Jim Collins
Why I Recommend It:
This isn’t nostalgia. It’s grounded analysis showing what separates lasting leadership from fleeting success—insight every CEO needs. -
![The 21 Irrefutable Laws Of Leadership | Nancy Girres | Executive Leadership Tools]()
The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership — John C. Maxwell
Why I Recommend It:
A timeless framework of laws that never fail—a guidebook for anyone wanting to sharpen their influence and impact. -
![The Five Dysfunctions of A Team | Nancy Girres | Executive Leadership Tools]()
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team — Patrick Lencioni
Why I Recommend It:
Teams don’t fail because of skills—so often, it’s trust, conflict, clarity, commitment, and accountability. Read this then look back at your team. -
![Unreasonable Hospitatlity | Nancy Girres | Executive Leadership Tools]()
Unreasonable Hospitality — Will Guidara
Why I Recommend It:
Radical care isn’t just kind—it’s catalytic. Hospitality isn’t just for restaurants; it’s for anyone who leads. -
![The Power Of Mattering | Nancy Girres | Executive Leadership Tools]()
The Power of Mattering — Zach Mercurio
Why I Recommend It:
Leading isn’t enough—people need to feel they matter. This book teaches how to build significance into your culture. -
![First, Break All The Rules | Nancy Girres | Executive Leadership Tools]()
First, Break All the Rules — Marcus Buckingham & Curt Coffman
Why I Recommend It:
Great leadership isn’t about what you do right; it’s about what conventional wisdom you refuse to follow.
VISION, GROWTH & STRATEGY
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![The Infinite Game | Nancy Girres | Executive Leadership Tools]()
THE INFINITE GAME — SIMON SINEK
Why I Recommend It:
It helps leaders think beyond quarterly wins and start building legacies that last. -
![Essentialism | Nancy Girres | Executive Leadership Tools]()
ESSENTIALISM — GREG MCKEOWN
Why I Recommend It:
If you feel pulled in a hundred directions, this book will teach you how to say no to what doesn’t matter — and yes to what does. -
![Traction | Nancy Girres | Executive Leadership Tools]()
TRACTION — GINO WICKMAN
Why I Recommend It:
It brings structure to visionary chaos. The EOS system helps leaders clarify, prioritize, and execute. -
![Purple Cow | Nancy Girres | Executive Leadership Tools]()
Purple Cow — Seth Godin
Why I Recommend It:
In a world of sameness, being remarkable isn’t optional—it’s essential. This book is a defiant blueprint for breaking through. -
![Start With Why | Nancy Girres | Executive Leadership Tools]()
Start with Why — Simon Sinek
Why I Recommend It:
Leadership rooted in “why” unlocks ignition. This book will help you lead with clarity that feels magnetic rather than managerial.
REFLECTION & INNER CLARITY
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![The Pivot Year | Nancy Girres | Executive Leadership Tools]()
THE PIVOT YEAR — BRIANNA WIEST
Why I Recommend It:
One page a day. One shift at a time. This book offers grounded wisdom for the seasons when everything is quietly changing -
![Let Them | Nancy Girres | Executive Leadership Tools]()
LET THEM — MEL ROBBINS
Why I Recommend It:
You don’t need to chase approval to stay in your power. This book is a permission slip to let go and stay rooted in your worth. -
![Loving What Is | Nancy Girres | Executive Leadership Tools]()
LOVING WHAT IS — BYRON KATIE
Why I Recommend It:
Freedom isn’t found by fixing others — it’s found by questioning our own thoughts. This book changes the way you experience challenges, forever. -
![Strengths Finder 2.0 | Nancy Girres | Executive Leadership Tools]()
StrengthsFinder 2.0 — Tom Rath
Why I Recommend It:
Knowing who you are—and who you’re not—is the fastest path to leadership clarity. -
![Now, Discover Your Strengths | Nancy Girres | Executive Leadership Tools]()
Now, Discover Your Strengths — Marcus Buckingham & Donald O. Clifton
Why I Recommend It:
This was the first widely used tool to shift the paradigm: don’t fix weaknesses—magnify your strengths. -
![Necessary Endings | Nancy Girres | Executive Leadership Tools]()
Necessary Endings — Dr. Henry Cloud
Why I Recommend It:
Knowing when to let go is as important as knowing when to push forward. This book gives leaders the courage to close the right doors. -
![Man's Search For Meaning | Nancy Girres | Executive Leadership Tools]()
Man's Search for Meaning — Viktor Frankl
Why I Recommend It:
The will to meaning outlasts the will to power. A profound reminder of what anchors leadership in life, not just profit. -
![I Thought It Was Just Me | Nancy Girres | Executive Leadership Tools]()
I Thought It Was Just Me — Brené Brown
Why I Recommend It:
Shame and vulnerability are universal—knowing we’re not alone is the beginning of real impact.
SELF-MASTERY & MINDSET
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![The Big Leap | Nancy Girres | Executive Leadership Tools]()
THE BIG LEAP — GAY HENDRICKS
Why I Recommend It:
Upper-limit problems are real — this book helps you recognize and dismantle the internal ceiling keeping you from more joy and success. -
![The Gap And The Gain | Nancy Girres | Executive Leadership Tools]()
THE GAP AND THE GAIN — DAN SULLIVAN & DR. BENJAMIN HARDY
Why I Recommend It:
This is the mindset shift that changes everything — from chasing success to recognizing progress. -
![Atomic Habits | Nancy Girres | Executive Leadership Tools]()
ATOMIC HABITS — JAMES CLEAR
Why I Recommend It:
Small, consistent actions beat big, unsustainable plans. This book is your blueprint for real change. -
![Think Again | Nancy Girres | Executive Leadership Tools]()
THINK AGAIN — ADAM GRANT
Why I Recommend It:
The best leaders are willing to rethink what they “know.” This book teaches how to lead with curiosity instead of ego. -
![Grit | Nancy Girres | Executive Leadership Tools]()
GRIT — ANGELA DUCKWORTH
Why I Recommend It:
Talent matters — but perseverance matters more. This book is a masterclass in resilience and long-game leadership. -
![Drive | Nancy Girres | Executive Leadership Tools]()
Drive — Daniel H. Pink
Why I Recommend It:
Forget carrots & sticks. Here's the science behind autonomy, mastery, and purpose—and why that’s the leadership of our time. -
![Thinking, Fast And Slow | Nancy Girres | Executive Leadership Tools]()
Thinking, Fast and Slow — Daniel Kahneman
Why I Recommend It:
Understand the two systems that drive decisions. Every leader who wants to think clearly—and lead wisely—should read this. -
![The Power Of Regret | Nancy Girres | Executive Leadership Tools]()
The Power of Regret — Daniel H. Pink
Why I Recommend It:
Not all regrets are failures—some light the path forward. This book teaches how regret can fuel better decisions.
Trusted Professionals
I don’t refer lightly. These professionals have earned my trust — and my clients.
TEAMS
Trebuchet Group
Chris Hutchinson / CEO
www.trebuchetgroup.com
ACCOUNTING
NoCo Elite Books
Christina Nickerson / Founder
www.nocoelitebooks.com
IT SERVICES
ICC USA
Kirk Bane / President
www.iccusa.net
People Development
Culture Index
Randi Fargen / Executive Advisor
www.cultureindex.com
EOS
EOS Worldwide
Steve Morris / Implementor
www.eosworldwide.com/stephen-morris
FRACTIONAL C-SUITE
Savvy Strategic Partners
Jill Simonds/Founder
www.savvystrategicpartners.com
Fractional CMO
7FOUR6 Marketing Co
Jesse Sullivan / Founder
www.7four6.com
AI Solutions
Local Nerds
Reuben (Reu) Smith / founder
www.localnerds.co
From The Blog
